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COIN ED AP TUS.

No. 552,460. Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

UNITED STATES Y P T NT OFFICE.

OSCAR XVINKLER, OF GOTIIA, GERMANY.

COIN-FREED APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,460, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed $eptember 23, 1895. Serial No. 563,381- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR WVINKLER, a subject of the Duke ofSaXe-Ooburg-Gotha, residing at Gotha, in the Duchy of- SaXe-Ooburg-Gotha and German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements inCoin-Freed Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-freed apparatus designed to be placed inpublic rooms, rooms for social gatherings, public places and halls, &c.,and used in combination with musical boxes or other devices; and it hasfor itsolfieot to inducetli'"public to patronize such apparatus to agreater extent than usual, for which the apparatus is constructed todeliver a coin or other article as a prize after it has been operated acertain predetermined number of times. The prize, which may consist, forexample, of a large coin, such as a two-shilling piece, previouslyinserted into the apparatus, which I will assume is the one designed toplay musical pieces, is caused to appear and disappear at intervals, andfinally on the sounding of a bell or other audible signal, after apredetermined number of musical pieces have been played, the coin isdischarged from the apparatus and can be received as a prize by theperson who has last set the apparatus in operation by inserting thereinthe proper coin.

A suitable inscription provided on the apparatus over the coin enablesthe public to know what will happen with the Visible prize when theaudible signal is sounded.

The apparatus for moving the coin or other prize (hereinafter referredto as the prize coin) and finally discharging it from the apparatuscomprises a rocking beam, upon which the coin is caused to roll to andfro by its own weight when the rocking beam oscillates. This rockingbeam is actuated by the motive mechanism of the apparatus and moves withthe prize between two walls, of which the rear one carries the aforesaidinscription and the front one is partly transparent, so as to render theprize visible at the proper moment. Near to one end of the rocking beamthere is formed in the box or casing of the apparatus a slot which, solong as the prize coin is to remain in the apparatus, is normallycovered or bridged over by a movable stop in such a manner as to renderit impossible for the prize coin to fall out prematurely. After apredetermined number of revolutions of the mechanism this stop isshifted by means of the spring-barrel of the musical box or otherdevice, so that a discharge-slot, previously obstructed by the saidstop, is uncovered and the prize coin then allowed to fall out of theapparatus with an audible signal produced, for instance, by the coinfalling upon a bell or gong.

The movement and the automatic discharge of the prize coin from theapparatus can be effected by means other than those hereinbeforementioned, and the arrangement may also be such that the prize coin andthe inscription are not visible until the automaton has been opened,this being more advantageous in the case of a musical apparatus, as themusic produced by the operation of the apparatus will be better heardwhen the door is open than when it is closed.

Figure 1' of the accompanying drawings illustrates in front elevation amusical apparatus of the kind referred to in which the movements of thecoin to be won as a prize are Visible without its being necessary toopen the automaton. Fig. 2 illustrates in front elevation, partly insection, a musical apparatus in which the prize coin and the aforesaidinscription are not visible until the door of the apparatus has beenopened. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional detail views. Fig. 5 shows partly invertical section and partly in elevation, Fig. 6 in plan, and Fig. 7partly in front end elevation and partly in cross-section, the apparatusfor moving and discharging the prize coin. Fig. 8 is a detail view ofthe mechanism for disconnecting the apparatus for moving and dischargingthe prize coin. Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 10 isa cross-section on the line 00 y of Fig. 9, showing a modifiedarrangement. Fig. 11 is a side elevation illustrating a further modifiedarrangement.

As will be seen, the several figures are drawn to different scales.

In the arrangement of apparatus shown in,

Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, H is the rocking beam that carries the prizecoin T. It is situated between two plates P and D, of which, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, the former carries the aforesaid inscription and thelatter is partly transparent. Two plates E and E, arranged between theplates P and D, serve to provide between them a space in which therocking beam II is able to move without hinderauce. The axle 71, if therocking beam II is pivoted at Figs. 5 and (5, carries a bent leverQwhich is rigidly fixed thereto. The free upper end of this bent leverXV carries an antifrictionroller 20, which works on an undulatingpathway U extending around the driving-spring barrel 0 of the apparatus,the necessary friction between the sliding surfaces being producedpartly by the weight of the lever \V and partly by the action of aspring F, which is continually pressing against the said bent lever V,the arrangement being such that when the spring-barrel 0 moves in thedirection indicated by the arrow, Fig. 6, the reels ing beam II will becaused to move also. By this means, when the apparatus is in operation,the prize coin T lying on the rocking beam II, as indicated partlyinfull lines and partly in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4:, is movedalternately to and fro, disappearing entirely at the end of the downwardmovement to the right and then again showing itself gradually until itis again almost wholly visible. In these to-and-fro movements, shown inFigs. 3, 4-, and h, the coin will. strike at one end against the plate Eand at the other end against a movable stop A, which extends through theplate 1 This movable step A bridges over an outlet-slot S, Figs. 2, :5,4, 5, 6, and 7, for the coin T, and thus prevents the coin fromprematurely falling out of the apparatus. \Vheu the stop A, Figs. 6 and'7, is moved back, the coin T will fall through the slot S onto a gongG, which it sounds, and thence passes to the exterior of the apparatus.

In order to move the step A inward at the proper moment-that is to say,at the predetermined moment fixed by the owner of the apparatus-for thepurpose of discharging the prize coin T, there is provided adisconnecting device, as hereinafter described, which is operated by thedriving mechanism of the apparatus, and which may obviously be variouslyconstructed and arranged, as also. may the mechanism for actuating theprize coin.

In the example shown the spring-barrel O carries on its lowercover-plate a pin 2', which at every revolution of the spring-barrelmoves a toothed wheel Z mounted on a screw-spindle Q forward to theextent of one tooth, so that a nut C formed as a fork and carried by thespindle Q is thereby caused to move in the direction indicated by thearrow 1, Fig. (i.

farther the nut C is moved toward the right, Figs. 5 and 6, the greaterwill be the amount to be received by the apparatus before the prize coinwill fall from the rocking beam ll out through the slot S and thence tothe exterior of the apparatus. The spindle Q is supported at one end inthe bearing L and at the other end in the wall of the box.

The nut C, which is made of fork shape for the purpose of allowing ofthe passage therethrough of other parts belonging to the drivingmechanism but forming no part of the present invention, carries close toits lower end a bent or an angle piece N which fixed thereto by means ofa screw n. This an glepieee N is provided at its free end with a suitably-formed nose N, is arranged to bear against the adjacent bearing 15of the movable stop A, and is guided so as to slide easily between tworollers R r, of which 0' is fixed on the stop A.' Between this roller 0'of the stop A and the oppositely-situated bearin g 13 there is arrangeda coiled spring f which normally presses the stop A outward, into theposition shown in full lines in. Fig. (3.

The stop A has an upwardly-projecting extension A'which, as shown. in Fl3, 4-, 7, and 8, is arranged to pass through a slot 1 in the plate P. Ifnow by repeated operation of the apparatus the nut C is moved quiteclose to the toothed wheel Z-that is to say, to the drivingspring-barrel O-the nose N of the angle-piece N will move into theposition shown separately in Fig. 8, and since the stop A with itsextension A is free to move endwise in the slot Pof the plate P, thenose N will actuate the roller 7' and consequently move the stop A back,whereby the slot 5 pre viously bridged over by the stop will beuncovered, Figs. 2 and 7, and the prize coin T will be free to fall outOf the apparatus, striking in its passage the bell G, and so giving anaudible signal. The spindle Q may then be again set from its end (3' toany desired amount,the spring f returning the stop Abaek into itsoriginal position to again prevent the premature falling out of a freshprize coin T placed upon the rocking beam H.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fi 9 and 10 the rocking beam Hcarries on its rearwardlyextended axle 72 an upwardly-projecting rod -W,that is constantly held by spring F against an elliptical or cam-shapedslideway U, arranged on the spring-barrel O of the driving mechanism. Bythis means, when the barrel 0 rotates, there is imparted to the rockingbeam carrying the coin T a rocking motion, and by making the ellipticalor cam-shaped slideway U with an undulating or corrugated edge, as ispartly indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10, there will be imparted tothe rocking beam II, in addition to its main rocking movement, a seriesof smaller rocking movements, wherebya jumping motion will be impartedto the prize coin. The spring-drum O of the driving mechanism has a nosei, which at each rotation strikes against a pawl M, which is under theinfluence of a spring, whereby the corresponding ratchetwheel Z isadvanced to the extent of one or more teeth. A pin or stud Z fixed onthis ratchet-wheel Z, strikes after every revolution of the latteragainst a nose a of a bent lever a, which is pivoted at a and is underthe influence of a spring f, and whereby the said lever is then causedto move from the front out of the outlet-slot S, so that the prize coinis free to pass through such slot, and thence into a drawer t, strikingin its passage the bell G. The drawert can then be readily opened by theprize-winner and the prize removed.

Z) is a stop against which the bent lever a is held by the spring f whenit is released by the pin or stud Z-, so as to obstruct the passage ofthe prize coin to the slot- Z until the required time.

In order to insure that the ratchet-wheel Z shall only be able to bemoved in one direction, a detent 7t may be provided.

If it be desired to reduce the time of winningthat is to say, to enablethe prize to be delivered before the termination of the rotation of theapparatusthe pawl M is moved alternately backward and forward by meansof a suitable key Q through the medium of a rod Q extending toward thewall of the box,

with the result that the ratchet-wheel Z is moved in the direction ofthe arrow marked in Fig. 9, and the releasing-pin Z moved nearer to thenose a of the bent lever a.

In the further modified arrangement shown in Fig. 11, in place of therod Q provided with a key Q there is provided a hook-shaped handle Qwhich also engages with the pawl M. The latter is guided along a pin, asin the arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and is drawn back by meansof the spring m; also, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 11, the rotationof the ratchet-wheel, and consequently the release of the coin, can onlybe accelerated, but cannot be retarded or arrested.

I-lavin g now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performedfl declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In a coin freed or like apparatus, the combinationwith a movable part of'said apparatus, of a rocking beam adapted to berocked by said movable part and serving to carry a coin or other prize,a stop normally arranged between the discharging end of said lever and adischarge opening, and releasing mechanism operated from said movablepart and adapted to move said stop from between said lever and dischargeopening after the apparatus has been operated a predetermined number oftimes, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a coin freed or like apparatus, the

substantially as herein described for the purposes specified.

3. In a coin freed or like apparatus, the combination with a movablepart of said apparatus of a coin or other prize carrier adapted to beoperated by said movable part, a stop arranged to prevent the prize onsaid carrier from leaving the apparatus, releasing mechanism adapted tomove said stop into its inoperative position after a predeterminednumber of operations of the apparatus, and means for adjusting theposition of said releasing mechanism and thereby varying the times atwhich it will come into operation, substantially as herein described.

4. In a coin freed or like apparatus, the combination with a movablepart of said apparatus of a coin or other prize carrier adapted to beoperated by said movable part, a stop arranged to prevent the prize onsaid carrier from leaving the apparatus, releasing mechanism adapted tomove said step into its inoperative position after a predeterminednumber of operations, and an audible signaling device arranged to besounded by the prize while being discharged from the apparatus,substantially as herein described.

5. In a coin freed or like apparatus, the combination with a rotarydriving part of said apparatus, of a rocking beam arranged to beoscillated by said rotary part and arranged to work between two plates apart of the front one of which is transparent, a spring controlled stopnormally located between said rocking beam and a discharge aperture, asliding plate with projection adapted to act against a projecting partof said stop and move back the latter against the action of its spring,mechanism adapted to be intermittently operated by said rotary drivingpart and to bring said sliding plate into operative position after apredetermined number of revolutions of said rotary part, and a soundingdevice arranged below the prize discharging aperture substantially asherein described for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OSCAR WINKLER.

Witnesses:

MARIE Loon, WILHELM BINDEWALD.

